246 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



the early morning. However, the custom of travelling 

 at night may be due to fear of meeting omen birds. 



The hair of the Penihings and the Oma-Sulings, 

 though it looks black, in reality is brown with a slight 

 reddish tint plainly visible when sunlight falls through 

 it. I believe the same is the case with other Dayak tribes. 

 In Long Tjehan I observed two natives who, though pass- 

 ing as Penihings, were of decidedly different type, being 

 much darker in colour and of powerful build, one having 

 curly hair while that of the other was straight. Penihing 

 women have unpleasantly shrill voices, a characteristic 

 less pronounced with the men. Members of this tribe 

 are not so fine-looking as those of other tribes on the 

 Mahakam, with the exception of the Saputans. 



When leaving the kampong on his daily trips to the 

 ladang, or when he travels, the Penihing carries his 

 shield. Even when pig-hunting, if intending to stay out 

 overnight, he takes this armour, leaving it however at 

 his camping-place. A spear is also carried, especially on 

 trips to the ladang. The sumpitan, called sawput, is no 

 longer made and the tribe is not very apt at its use; there- 

 fore, being unable to kill the great hornbill themselves, 

 these natives have to buy its highly valued tail feathers 

 from the Punans. The latter and the Bukats, who are 

 the greater experts in the use of the sumpitan, notwith- 

 standing their limited facilities, are also the better makers, 

 which is by no means a small accomplishment. These 

 nomads, and to some extent the Saputans as well, furnish 

 this weapon to all the Bahau tribes, the Kayans excepted. 



When meeting, no salutations are made. The mother 



